Liz Gellene

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a native New Yorker and despite my very real love for beaches and mountains, I still can’t seem to imagine living anywhere else but New York City. I’m a chef at heart and I live for feeding people that I love, especially my amazing partner, Ricardo, and our incredible 4-year-old daughter Eva. When I’m not connecting with our Little Spoon families, you can find me hunting for the best taco spot in Queens, playing the ukulele, or planning several imaginary trips around the world.

What 3 words best describe your parenting experience to date?

Beautiful, transformative, chaos

What’s one of the hardest or most surprising things about being a parent that people wouldn’t expect or don’t usually talk about?

One of the hardest things about being a parent is navigating the waters of raising, with honesty and openness, an independent, self-reliant kid while protecting them and their innocence.

What were some of your “wait...is this normal??” moments once you became a parent?

I was lucky enough to be able to have a long nursing relationship with my daughter, but I was seriously ready to wean just before her third birthday. I already felt a little weird and embarrassed when she would talk about “having boobies” in public to friends, family and even strangers, but when we stopped she still begged me to “snuggle with the boobies” and “hang out with the boobies.” Now every night before bed I lay in bed with her so she can fall asleep with her hands down my shirt. Fingers crossed this ends before college!

What’s one of your favorite parenting hacks that helps keep you sane (that other parents should know about and start doing ASAP)?

When they are crabby, just add water. Whether it is a bath, a swim, a shower, a drink, or just the opportunity to splash a bit, water can really help to reset a kid who is having a moment (or an entire day of “moments”)!